Baku in Winter: December to February Weather, Snow and What to Do

Baku in winter is cool, windy and fairly dry, not frozen. Average daytime highs are 9.7 °C in December, 6.6 °C in January and 6.3 °C in February. Each month sees only 20 to 26 mm of rain. Snow is rare in the city and seldom stays. It is reliable in the mountains a few hours north.

So winter here is a different trip, not a worse one. The city is quiet, the days are short, and the snow is a drive away. Below are the official figures month by month, what to do, and who the season suits.

Winter weather in Baku by month

People expect a Caspian winter to be severe. It is not, and this is the part worth knowing before you decide.

Month	Average high	Average low	Rainfall	Rainy days
November	13.5 °C	8.8 °C	30 mm	6
December	9.7 °C	4.8 °C	26 mm	6
January	6.6 °C	2.1 °C	21 mm	6
February	6.3 °C	2.0 °C	20 mm	6
March	9.8 °C	4.2 °C	21 mm	5

Those are the long-term averages for 1971 to 1990, published by Azerbaijan’s National Hydrometeorological Department through the World Meteorological Organization.

Two things stand out. Highs stay above freezing right through the coldest months, so this is a coat-and-scarf winter. And it is dry. About six rainy days a month and 20 to 30 mm of rain.

That combination is why walking works here in January. Cold, bright and dry beats mild and wet for a city you want to see on foot.

December, January and February compared

December is the warmest of the three, at 9.7 °C by day. The Tourism Board says festive cheer takes over Fountains Square from the start of the month, with big Christmas trees and markets. It ends with New Year, and our New Year in Baku page covers why those dates need booking early.

January is the quiet month. It averages 6.6 °C by day, and after the holidays the city settles down. Read more in our guide to Baku in January.

February is the coldest month on paper and the driest, at 6.3 °C and 20 mm. It is also the month before Novruz. Read more in our guide to Baku in February.

The wind is the story

Baku is windy all year, and in winter it defines the day. The temperature reading is not extreme. The wind makes it feel much colder than the figure suggests.

Pack for it. A layer that blocks wind is worth more than a heavy coat, and a hat is not decorative.

The seafront is where you feel it most. It is also where the city looks most dramatic in winter, so it is worth an hour of discomfort.

Where the snow is

Snow falls in Baku now and then, but it rarely stays, because days stay above freezing. The Tourism Board itself calls snow a rarity in the city.

If you want snow underfoot, go north. Our page on snow in Azerbaijan explains why height decides it, and which places non-skiers can reach. Shahdag Mountain Resort is 212 km from Baku by road, which the resort itself publishes. That makes it an overnight trip rather than a day out. Our Shahdag ski guide covers the resort, and the winter route via Guba covers the drive.

The Tourism Board says Shahdag and Tufandag welcome snow sports from December to the end of March. Each resort still sets its own opening date. Check it before you fix travel dates around skiing.

What winter is good for

Space. The Old City in January is yours. Museums are calm, restaurants have tables, and nobody is queuing.

Walking. Cold and dry suits a city built of stone. The Old City does not need sunshine, and it looks its best in low winter light.

Food and tea. Both happen indoors and do not care about the season. The tea houses are at their best when it is cold outside.

What to do in Baku in winter

Plan the day around the light and the wind, and most of the city works well.

Museums and indoor sights. These are the backbone of a winter day. Our Baku museums page lists the main ones.

The Old City. Its lanes are short and sheltered, so it is the best walk on a windy day.

The festive season. December brings the trees and markets on Fountains Square, so an evening walk there is part of the month.

Snow for a day or two. Shahdag and Tufandag are the two resorts the Tourism Board names. Both suit a night or two rather than a rushed day trip.

Dated events. Concerts, theatre and exhibitions run all winter. The Tourism Board keeps an events calendar with dates, so check it once your trip is fixed.

What winter makes harder

Daylight. Short days cut what one day can hold, and a day trip that works in May needs more care in January.

Mountain touring. Roads north depend on the weather, so a plan built around them needs a fallback day.

The sea. The Caspian in winter is grey and cold, and the boulevard is a walk rather than a destination.

Who winter suits

People who want a city rather than a landscape. People who like museums, food and walking without crowds. Skiers who want a few city days before or after the mountains.

It suits a first trip built around seeing the whole country less well, because driving days are shorter.

A winter day that works

Museums in the morning, when the light is thin and the wind is strongest. A slow lunch indoors.

The Old City in the afternoon, when the sun is low. Tea somewhere warm, then dinner.

That shape uses the daylight for the outdoor parts and puts the indoor parts either side. It is the whole trick of a winter city trip.

Gulf visitors: a visa-free window this winter

Citizens of Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait and Bahrain can enter Azerbaijan without a visa until 15 February 2027. The foreign ministry’s table allows three entries in that period, up to 30 days each.

That covers December, January and the first half of February. A trip that runs past 15 February 2027 needs a fresh check. The ministry’s table gives no date beyond that one. We read the table on 24 September 2026. Check it again before you book, and see our page on entry for Saudi citizens for the details.

Planning a winter trip with us

Most winter trips come down to one question: city only, or city and mountains?

Send us your dates, how many of you are travelling and your arrival flight. Tell us whether Shahdag is in the plan. Our five-day winter itinerary shows one way to split the city and the snow. We will reply with a route that fits the short days, including the airport pickup and the mountain transfer if you need it.